There was a time, not too long ago, when if someone loaned you money and charged you 29 percent interest they'd probably be called a "loan shark" and hauled off to jail. That term, loan shark, is one you don't hear much these days because the practice of usury has gone all respectable on us. It's no longer the neighborhood wiseguy or shady character who employs it — it's used by the bank down the street as well as most major U.S. lenders who issue credit cards.